Digital marketing is a profitable avenue for businesses involved in the sports industry (Perrin 2012). Digital marketing is the promotion of products or brands through various channels of electronic social media. This allows businesses to analyze their marketing strategies to determine which is most effective in real-time (Perrin 2012). Learn more!
Through social media, sport rights holders can engage fans in new communication channels which can be measured and valued as a new commercial opportunity with sponsors (Miller and Cave 2015). In addition, businesses that get involved through sponsorship and social media promotions, also benefit from increased brand affinity and loyalty (Miller and Cave 2015).
Social networks are the shortest, fastest, and most direct way to reach your audience through athletes who, in that specific community, have more credibility than anyone. Similarly, athletes provide their sponsors with a consumer base of millions of people who every day are interested in what they do, what they feel, what they consume (Bacon 2015; Miller and Cave 2015; Johan Cruyff Institute 201). Additionally, social media marketing saves athletes time and hassle from having to be directly involved in traditional advertisements.
Digital marketing offers tremendous opportunities for sports sponsorship- increase revenue, segmented market, and greater dynamic fan base. Its costs are less compared to physical mediums and it allows sponsors to customize products to meet segmented markets based on different socioeconomic demographics.
1. Team Work
‘There’s no I in team’. It’s the most used term in the sporting skills index, and yet the reasons for this are well earned. A boat will only race at its fastest when all rowers move in one rhythm, whilst a goal scored in football is thanks to the varying skillset of the team.
Learning to work with others and appreciating how different talents can contribute to one goal is essential in every workplace and industry. Teamwork is also possible only when all the members are accepting of each other. If, for example, there is some sort of discrimination when hiring new members or between existing members, it can not only hamper your goals in the long term but also lead to disastrous consequences in the short term. For example, employees who feel discriminated against could hire a firm similar to Dhillon Law and sue you or your institution for damages. That is why teamwork is not only beneficial for success, but it is also necessary.
2. Leadership
From captain of your team to a captain of industry, developing leadership skills in sport is crucial to any future employment, whether you’re in charge or not.
Making tough decisions about the team list or the workforce; developing the ability to inspire, motivate and lead your colleagues; are skills that are always in demand.
3. Time Management
Any university athlete who still wanted to achieve their desired academic grade will know the importance of this.
Juggling daily training sessions with the demands of lectures, seminars, and coursework (as well as maintaining a social life!) act as an essential practice for maintaining a work-life balance in the ‘real world’.
4. Competition & Sportsmanship
Wanting to win goes hand in hand with accepting defeat and there is no better teacher. A drive for success is sought by every employer and found in all athletes. However, learning to accept loss is a much tougher lesson, but can be much more valuable.
Whether that teaches you to brush off rejection or learn from your mistakes is your call, but sooner or later most of us will face that in the workplace.
5. Handling Pressure
It’s all about adrenalin! From preparing for the big game to standing on the start line of the final race, coping with high-pressure situations is a natural occurrence in the sport.
Whilst not all careers are high stress, companies always value an individual capable of coping when times get tough. Whether that be staying calm in an interview or meeting a short deadline.
6. Management & Responsibility
Sports clubs don’t run themselves. Securing new equipment, raising funds, and maintaining club numbers are just some of the tasks required of committee members; providing a brilliant environment to develop and practice managerial skills before leaving university.
7. Commitment
Last but not least, no medal is won without dedication, early starts, and personal sacrifice. It’s that grit, determination, and focus given by all university athletes to their sport that is valued so highly by employers.
